The department has active research programs in the areas of Dynamic Systems & Control (DSC), ThermoFluids Science (TFS), and Materials Processing & Manufacturing (MPM).
Welcome to the graduate program in Mechanical Engineering (ME) at The University of Alabama. Advanced engineering study is intellectually stimulating and will prove to be a great asset in a career. The department has active research programs in Dynamic Systems & Control (DSC), ThermoFluids Science (TFS), and Materials Processing & Manufacturing (MPM) which, in addition to the general core graduate courses, provide the foundation for earning a Master of Science (MSME) or Doctoral (PhD) degree in Mechanical Engineering.
The MSME and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering are offered through the conventional on-campus program (MA) as well as via distance (DL). Applicants and current students are encouraged to refer to the UA Graduate School for official information related to curriculum and admissions.
Graduates complete 24 graduate course hours and a thesis or 30 graduate course hours and a comprehensive exam.
The doctorate requires 42 credit hours of coursework past the bachelor’s degree, a qualifying exam, a proposal, and a dissertation.
| Domestic & International |
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| No Deadlines for Graduate Admissions |
| International applicants should consider the time required to obtain travel documents from country of origin when applying. |
Applicants to the MSME program are expected to have completed a BS Degree in Mechanical Engineering (or related field) with a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants from other fields are welcome, though additional undergraduate coursework may be required prior to entry. Specific admission requirements to the program can be found on the Graduate School’s web site.
Applicants to the PhD program are expected to have completed an MS Degree in Mechanical Engineering (or related field) with a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants with only a BSME degree and a 3.3 GPA are also considered for direct admission to the program and may obtain an en route MSME when they satisfy the MSME non-thesis degree requirements. Applicants from other fields are welcome to apply for regular admission, though additional undergraduate coursework may be required prior to entry. Specific admission requirements to the program can be found on the Graduate School’s web site.
APPLY TO THE ME GRADUATE PROGRAM
University of Alabama ME undergraduate students with strong qualifications may enter these graduate degree programs early through UA’s Accelerated Master’s Program. These students may also double-count up to 9 hours of graduate credit for the BSME elective courses. Please refer to the AMP website for additional information.
While applications are processed on a rolling basis, international applicants are encouraged to apply early so that the required travel paperwork can be obtained from the country of origin. This paperwork must be obtained in order to travel to campus prior to classes starting. The process for obtaining this travel paperwork can often take two to six months to complete, depending on the country of origin. Applicants seeking consideration for funding should also apply early.
Funding and financial assistance is available to qualified applicants. This support is generally in the form of an assistantship or fellowship. Those interested in pursuing funding are encouraged to visit the degree specific pages (MSME or PhD) for additional information on funding opportunities as well as the process for securing funding, which is a process that is separate from admissions. Applicants are advised to contact faculty with matching research interests for inquiries about financial assistance. Applicants contacting the graduate program director or department head to inquire about funding will be referred to the appropriate page linked above.
For additional information about Mechanical Engineering graduate programs, please contact Dr. Kalyan Srinivasan, the departmental graduate program director.
Over 1,500 undergraduates and over 160 graduate students were enrolled in Mechanical Engineering at The University of Alabama in the Fall 2021 term. Currently, there are 31 Mechanical Engineering faculty members. Faculty teach graduate-level courses and conduct research in thrust areas that include, but are not limited to: automotive systems, robotics and human systems, automation and mechatronic systems, energy and building efficiency, internal combustion engines, manufacturing systems, additive manufacturing, and materials processing and modeling.
The Mechanical Engineering Seminar Series is an important component of our graduate program. This seminar provides a means for graduate students to present their research in a student-centered environment. Furthermore, outside speakers are recruited for this series in order to expose students and faculty to research being conducted at other organizations. Information on the seminars for the current semester can be found below.
| Dates | Speaker | Location | Seminar Title | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, August 21, 2024 | Krishnan, Kasemer, Srinivasan | BE 0009 | ME Graduate Students Welcome 2024-2025 | Introduction, ME Dept Head, GPD, Graduate Program |
| Wednesday, August 28, 2024 | Richard Adkins | BE 0009 | Using UA’s HPC Resources: A Brief Introduction to UAHPC/CHPC | UA High Performance Computing Solutions Architect |
| Wednesday, September 4, 2024 | Gabe Mansfield | NL 1013 | Navigating Engineering Research: Essential Library Strategies for Graduate Students | Assistant Professor at Rogers Library |
| Wednesday, September 11, 2024 | Tom Ackerson | NL 1015 | Materials Challenges for Reusable Hardware and Sustainable Processes for Space Travel in the Mid-21st Century | Technical Fellow, Blue Origin |
| Friday, September 13, 2024 | Dr. George Nelson | NL 1013 | Multimodal X-ray and Neutron Imaging of Lithium Batteries | UAH Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department Chair |
| Thursday, September 26 | John Crane | NL 1013 | Department of Energy Zero Carbon Energy : Progress to Net Zero | DOE NETL Gas turbine technology manager |
| Wednesday, October 2, 2024 | Dr. Judy Schneider | NL 1013 | Advanced Manufacturing to Support Extraterrestrial Development and Habitation | Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Co-Director of Material Science Program, UAH |
| Wednesday, October 9, 2024 | Dr. Sibendu Som | NL 1013 | Accelerating Decarbonization of Transportation and Power Generation Sectors: Leveraging Leadership Computing & High-Fidelity Experiments | Director Advanced Propulsion and Power Department / Director, AI Applications Initiative at Argonne National Laboratory |
| Wednesday, October 16, 2024 | Dr. Kevin Cole | NL 1013 | Something old and something new: Green’s functions and thermal modeling | Emeritus Professor, Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln |
| Wednesday, October 23, 2024 | Dr. Michael Tonks | NL 1013 | Multiscale Modeling of Ablative Thermal Protection Systems | UF, Materials Science and Engineering, Assoc. Dept. Chair |
| Wednesday, October 30, 2024 | Dr. Brian Lattimer | NL 1013 | Material Design and Evaluation for Extreme Environments | Department Head and Nicholas and Rebecca Des Champs Chair Professor in Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech. |
| Wednesday, November 6, 2024 | Dr. Arvind Thiruvengadam | NL 1013 | Diesel Engines – Past, Present, and Future Directions | Principal Engineer, PACCAR Technical Center |
| Wednesday, November 13, 2024 | Dr. Gregory S. Chirikjian | NL 1013 | From State Estimation on Lie Groups to Robot Imagination | Willis F. Harrington Professor, Department Chair, University of Delaware |
| Wednesday, November 20, 2024 | Dr. Pierre Larochelle | NL 1013 | Synthesis of Spherical and Spatial Mechanisms for Pick and Place Tasks with Guiding Locations | Department Head and Professor, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology |
The University of Alabama offers both research-based and professionally focused programs, at the master’s and doctoral level.
The minimum degree requirements and academic performance standards.
The general requirements for advanced degrees.
The deadlines for applying to UA’s Graduate School.
All prospective international students are welcome at The University of Alabama.
Can’t get to campus? We’ll come to you. See what distance learning graduate and doctoral degree programs the College of Engineering offers.
This program is intended for gifted and highly motivated candidates whose objectives include degrees at the master’s or doctoral level.
This calendar shows important dates for the academic year at UA.
